GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Memorial Weekend is the unofficial start to the summer, and for many that means barbecue season! With that in mind we asked the veterinarians as BluePearl Veterinary Specialist to provide some does and don’ts when it comes to the backyard barbecue.
Food and associated items are the most common concern, such as corn cobs and tasty wooden skewers. Ingestion of these items can cause patients to become very ill and in many cases require surgical removal of the item. Grease is also a very tempting treat even when poured over things like rocks, so be sure to prevent ingestion, this can cause pancreatitis and if the pet ingest a rock, could lead to surgical removal of the rock(s).
Pets often get various treats and table scraps from well-intentioned guests which can upset their stomach and cause gastroenteritis. In particular, high fat foods can upset the pancreas which can require hospitalization and aggressive treatment. Some food items can be toxic like onions, garlic, avocados, grapes, raisins and chocolate. Inclusive toxic food list for dogs from the ASPCA.
After the family barbecue, don’t treat your dogs to leftover bones from steak, ribs, chicken or other human food. The bones often splinter and may become a choking hazard and large, irregularly-shaped bones can easily get lodged in the intestinal tract including the esophagus.
Common outdoor products like citronella, insect sprays, fertilizers and rodent baits can be toxic so provide a safe location for your pet to prevent exposure.
Keep pets out of the trash by keeping it separate or covered.
The safest policy is to avoid giving human food to pets because so much of it can be harmful to them. If you want your pets to celebrate along with you, buy them a few extra pet treats while stocking up on your own groceries.
Our specialty and 24/7 Emergency hospital is located in Grand Rapids on "Medical Mile" just East of Fuller @ 1425 Michigan St. NE. We're here to help and proud to be a part of the West Michigan community! For more information about BluePearl, click here.
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